School bomb threat hoax: Panicked parents tell of 'race' to school to pick up kids after hoax at 400 schools

'Horrific': The hoax email sent to schools across the UK
Eleanor Rose19 March 2018

Horrified parents have told how they dashed to pick up their kids after hundreds of schools were evacuated due to a mass bomb threat.

Mums and dads spoke out against the "absolutely disgusting" hoax saying they were "racing" to the school gates to pick up youngsters any way they could.

One woman wrote on Twitter: "My daughters school has been evacuated because of a bomb threat and I’m still miles away in an Uber racing to get her home safely.

"Please don’t **** with other people’s kids. There’s so much wrong with this world," she added.

She later added that her child was safe and now thankfully had "a chocolate milkshake and no clue what has almost happened".

An anxious father wrote on Twitter that the two schools his children attend had dealt "professionally" with the crisis but called the experience "horrific".

He wrote: "Can’t believe this. I had to rush to collect our children from two schools after this bomb threat! Absolutely disgusting and a horrific experience for all."

Another woman shared her experience on Facebook, asking what the "world is coming to".

"What is the world coming to when you have to pick your kids up from school because of a bomb scare," she wrote.

The parents' comments come amid widespread horror at the hoax that targeted more than 400 schools and colleges, causing chaos.

The hoax email is believed to read: "This is a message to everyone. We have sent in a student with a bomb. The bomb is set to go off in 3 hours time. If you do sent $5,000 USD to payments@veltpvp.com

"If you do not send the money! We will blow up the device. Our site has all the information needed

"If you try to call the cops we WILL blowup the device on the SPOT! ANY attempt at defusing it your self will cause it to explode."

It is then followed by writing in Arabic script.

Northumbria Police said in a tweet: "The emails inform the school that a bomb has been placed on the grounds and will be detonated if they don’t hand over cash."

The emails are believed to have been sent to UK schools from the United States. The Met Police has confirmed it is investigating.

Schools in boroughs all over the capital were evacuated.

Hounslow Council confirmed that eight of its schools were affected while Ealing Council said:

"We know that schools have received a letter. They are aware of it and will be vigilant.

"Police will visit each school that has reported receiving a threat. Schools remain open at this time.”

A Met Police spokesman said: "Police are investigating reports of communications made to a number of schools across London today.

"There have been no arrests. Enquiries are ongoing."

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